"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Galatians 2:20
“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen…"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:5-8)
As a Christian, this is our life. It is supposed to be our life. And it is our life if we are remembering this truth each day. “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God.” How will temptation overtake you if that truth is ruling your heart? How will the passion of arrogance, or pride, or greed, or lust, or immorality consume you if you are living that truth each day?
Of everything we’ve talked about regarding self-control, all of the different perspectives, tips, tricks, knowledge and wisdom, none of it compares to this. This is the one. This is the Alpha and the Omega of self-control: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me…” If Christ is living in you, and you have crucified your passions, then how can lust or temptation overtake you? You love Christ, you live for Christ, and self-control will come naturally.
“It is no longer I who live, but Jesus lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but the faithful witness lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but the firstborn of the dead lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but ruler of the kings of the earth lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but He who loves us lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but He who released us from our sins by His blood lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but He who made us to be a kingdom lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but He who made us priests to Jehovah God lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but the Alpha and the Omega lives in me.”
“It is no longer I who live, but the Almighty lives in me.”
“To Him be the glory and the dominion over me and in me forever and ever. Amen.”
How can we have the faith to say such things? Our walking by sight and not by faith keeps us weak. It keeps us begging and searching for self-control. It keeps us longing for it as some distant dream. Sin so easily entangling us. Drowning us in despair and hopelessness. Why? Is it because we do not understand the words of Paul inspired by the Spirit of God, or because we do not believe them? The key to self-control, the alpha and the omega, is Jesus Christ living in me. When I get that, and believe that, and live that… then I will have life-changing self-control, because Jesus will be in control. Fix your eyes on Jesus!
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
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